Collision mat for vehicles



Ang. 2, 1949. A. E. LABSER COLLISION MAT FOR VEHICLES 4 Sheetg-.Sheet AFiled April 11, 1947 Attorney:

- 2 i949- A. E. massa coLLIsIoN swr Fon vEnIcLEs 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledApril 11, 1947 In vento r Atfomeys Aug. 2, E949. A. E. LABSE'R COLLISIDNEAT FOR VEHICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 11, 1947 A. E. EssaCOLLISION EAT FOR VEHICLES AIM rueys 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed April l1.1947 Patented ug. 2, 1949 UNTTED STATES PATENT carica COLLISION MAT FORVEHICLES- Adam Labser, Hamden, N. Y.

Application April 11, 1947, Serial No. 740,746

The present invention relates to collision mats for vehicles and itconsists in the combinations, constructions and arrangements of partsherein described and claimed.

Generally, the invention comprises a plurality of collision pads or matswhich are mounted in convenient storage locations within the body andtop of a vehicle and which are adapte'd to be propelled by rockets intopositions at the front and forward sides of the vehicle automaticallyupon a collision with such vehicle. For actuating the rockets aplurality of inertia operated switches are provided at convenientlocations upon the vehicle and these switches are electrically con-Iiected with the rockets. 'The steeringcolumn .of the vehicle islikewise provided with such' a switch.

It is an object of the invention to provide a novel means and mechanismwhereby collision pads may be automatically placed over the Windshieldand side windows of a vehicle whenever a collision takes place.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel switchingmeans for actuating a device as above described.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel constructionin a steering column whereby a switch is closed in the event of a suddenforward pressure upon the steering wheel.

A further object of the invention is the provision of novel means andmechanism for the prevention of cuts from flying glass in the event of acollision.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from areading of the following specification taken in conjunction with thedrawings, in which:

Figure 1 is. a sectional elevational view of a portion of a vehicleincluding an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a schematic view illustrating an electrical system formingpart of the invention,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3--3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a collision mat forming a part ofthe invention and having certain portions removed to expose theconstruction thereof,

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a sectional view of a switch forming a part of the presentinvention,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating certain detailsof the invention,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sectional vier: illus- 1 Claim. (Cl. 296-84)trating the method of mounting the pads forming part of the invention,

Figures 9 and 10 'are fragmentary sectional views illustrating detailsof the invention,

Figure 11 is a sectional view of a switch ing a part of the invention, l

-Figure 12 is a sectional view of a steering column switch forming apart of the invention, and

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along line |3l3 of Figure 12. i

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is shown therein amotor vehicle having a roof lll beneath which ls provided a compartmentformed by the roof and a partition li. Within the compartment there isprovided a plurality of rails l2 having inturned lower edges whereby.the heads I3 of studs lli may be mounted therein. The studs it aresecurely fastened to the collision pads l5 which are stored in thecompartment. Fastened to the rear end of the collision pad I5, asindicated at i6 are a series of flexible tubes Il having rocket firingcompartments I8 at their rear ends. of the rocket compartments protrudeslightly through the roof I0 of the vehicle and a firing device 2li isprovided at the rear of the compartment.

An opening 2l is provided at the forward end of the partition l l andthe rails l2 extend downwardly to a point below the windshield on thedashboard 22 of the vehicle.

In each of the forward doors 2d of the vehicle there is provided acollision pad 25 which is stored in a separate compartment 2t having ahinged cover 2l at its upper end. A rocket tube 2d is formcentrallymounted below the compartment 26 andl has its lower end curvedkoutwardly as indicated at 29 to communicate with an opening 35i in thelower outer side of each door.

'Ihe firing device 20 consists of a pair of elec- A trodes 3l springpressed inwardly by means of of which is provided a heavy weight 35which generally conforms to the inner sides of the cylinder 36. Abuttingthe weight 35 is a washer 36 having a centrally disposed opening 3ltherein. The other end of the cylindrical body' 3d is provided with anannular member of dielectric rna-a terial 38 having an opening 39centrally disposed therein for the reception of a wire 40 which con- Theopen ends la nect's with a contact member 4I carried by the inner sideof the member 3l. A spring 42 is interposed between the member 38 andthe washer 3l Mounted preferably upon'the chassis of the vehicle, inorder to be actuated by shocks received against the sides of thevehicle, is a switch 42 which is provided with a ilexible cover 44 oi.'senil-spherical shape under which is a metallic member 45 of like shapewhich is provided with an inwardly extending tubular portion 45 throughwhich is a, wire 41 adapted to pass and contact l i therein and whichring is adapted to be urged upwardly by means of springs 54 mountedwithin the housing 82 upon pins 55. The movable or extended portion 60of the steering column carries a dependent annular contact member 56 andhas a spring 61 interposed between its upper inturned edge 68 and asolid inner extension 59 of the steering column. The contact member 56and the ring 63 are respectively connected to wiring 'l0 and 1|. i

The collision mats l5are preferably formed of several layers ofmaterial. For example, the

inner layer is formed of rubber and thenext several layers 15, 'l1 and18 may be formed of liexible materials of various kinds. It will beunderstood that the mats I5 may be inflated in any suitable manner.

In operation, it will be apparent that upon a collision between thevehicle carrying the apparatus above described and any other objectthat` the switches such as illustrated in Figure 6 will be actuatedthrough the inertia of the weight 35 which will move against the actionof the spring 42 to make contact with the contact member 4I therebycompleting a circuit to the ilring device 20. 'Again, upon such acollision taking place the weight of the driver would be impressed upon`the steering wheel causing the contact members 66 and 63 to comeVtogether against the action of the spring 61 which tends to normallyhold the same apart. This also willcause a closingof an electricalcircuit to the firing device 2l. Again, in the form of switchA disclosedin Figure 11, any impact against the flexible cover 44 will bend thesame inwardly and depress the member 45 against the action of the spring52 and into contact with the ring thereby closing a circuit to the ringmechanisms.

Upon the closing of any one of the circuits above mentioned the firingmechanisml will cause the ring of the rockets contained in the tubes Il.and

in the tubes' :s thereby gaining met the pad is '65 to travel forwardlyalong the rails I 2 to a position along the inner side oi' thewindshield and seco'ndly will cause the pads 25 to move upwardlyautomatically opening the doors 21 and covering the inner sides of theglass windows of the doors adjacent the forward end of the car. Thus itwill be seen that immediately upon the occurrence of a collision andbefore any possibility of glass being shattered, there will be forcedinto complete coverage at the forward end of the vehicle against ilyingglass and also provision is made for lessening the shock should the bodyof the passengers of such vehicle be hurled forwardly.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and describedherein,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that manyminor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

In a vehicle including a body having a top, a windshield, and aninstrument board under the windshield; a partition spaced downwardlyfrom the top and providing a chamber extending longitudinally of itsbody and having an open front end portion curved downwardly andterminating above the windshield, slotted tubes in said chamberconstituting tracks extending longitudinally therein in transversespaced relation to each other with their forward portions extendingdownwardly along and beyond the windshield a collision mat in saidchamber, studs carried by said mat and slidably engaged in said tracksand mounting the pad for movement through the front end of the chamberfrom a retracted position to an extended position in which it extendsdownwardly in covering relation to the windshield and the instrumentboard, a tube extending longitudinally in the rear portion of saidchamber from said pad, a follower in the tube an explosive in n the tubewhich acts against the follower and mat, when exploded to drive the matforwardly and electrically energized means for tiring the explosiveincluding a circuit having switches at the 454 sides and ends of thebody adapted to be closed by jolts delivered to the body during acollision.

ADAM E. LABSER..

REFERENCES CITED The following referenices are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,019,858 Tanner Mar. 12, 19121,256,848 Uttz Feb. 19, 1918 1,624,418 Marsh Apr. 12, 1927 2,050,141Wethington Aug. 4. 1936 2,180,912 Rogers Nov. 21, 1939 2,426,034 Leonard---c Aug. 19, 1947 FOREIGN lPATENTS Number Country Date 689,857 FranceJune 3, 1930

